European cargo fails to undock from space station

MOSCOW (AP) — The European Space Agency says the undocking of its cargo craft from the International Space Station has been postponed after a communication malfunction during planned separation late Tuesday.

The agency said on its website that both the space station and the ATV-3 craft are safe and that a new undocking date will be announced.

ATV-3 is attached to the Russian service module and had been loaded with waste and rubbish for disposal. It was due to be jettisoned into an unpopulated area of the South Pacific later this week.

Three astronauts are set to travel to the space station next month, bringing to six the number of crewmembers at the orbiting laboratory.